Northern Ireland: Drumcree Marches

Lord Eames: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are satisfied that all avenues of approach have been attempted to solve the impasse at Drumcree in the light of the recent remarks by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland regarding the forthcoming "marching season" in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Amos: A number of different approaches have been attempted over the years to resolve the impasse at Drumcree. Efforts continue to find a satisfactory outcome to this dispute. With regard to the overall marching season I would strongly recommend and encourage all community leaders actively to engage in efforts to achieve as peaceful a marching season in 2004 as that experienced in 2003.

Ulster-Scots Agency: Budget 2004

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29 March (WA 127) concerning the budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency, what "approved actions" means; by whom such actions are approved; and on what basis.

Baroness Amos: The "approved actions" are broken down in the annex to the Interim Procedures Paper, LAN 11, which was approved by Ministers on 26 February 2004, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Ulster-Scots Agency: Budget 2004

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written answer by the Lord President on 5 April (WA 183), concerning the 2004 budgets for Cross Border bodies, why a lesser percentage increase over 2003 was agreed for the Ulster-Scots Agency than the Irish Language Agency.

Baroness Amos: The North/South Language Body 2004 budget was calculated by sponsor departments on the approved actions in the two agencies draft business plans. As the euro is the main operating currency for Foras na Gaeilge, the actual percentage increase in Euro for that agency was 4.61 per cent as against the 10.65 per cent sterling increase for the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Republic of Ireland: Official Languages Act

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 21 April (WA 37) concerning the Republic of Ireland's Official Languages Act, whether any discussions about the implications of the Act have taken place between officials of the two governments; if so, when and what was the result; whether legal advice was sought by the Government; and, if so, what was that advice.[HL2517]lynne

Baroness Amos: Discussions between relevant officials North and South took place on a number of occasions. The most recent formal discussion was on 19 March 2004 when it was agreed that a code of practice reflecting the legal and policy frameworks established in both jurisdictions on the use of Irish language and Ulster-Scots would be prepared. Information on whether legal advice was sought and, if so, its content is exempt from disclosure under paragraphs 2 and 4 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

House of Lords: Grand Committees

The Earl of Northesk: asked the Leader of the House:
	Whether sittings of Grand Committees that proceed beyond the rising of the House can be properly considered as proceedings conducted while the House is in session.

Baroness Amos: Timings of the Grand Committees are settled by agreement in the usual channels. As with other committees, Grand Committees may meet whether or not the House is sitting.

Belfast: New Cultural and Educational Facility

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What agreement there was between the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Belfast City Arts Centre about funding; and when any funding will be made available.

Baroness Amos: A business case has been prepared for a new purpose-built cultural and educational facility in Belfast City Centre. This could provide accommodation for the City of Belfast School of Music, the Old Museum Arts Centre and a new gallery space, as well as offering facilities for the performing arts department of the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education. While Laganside Corporation has identified a site to the rear of St Anne's Cathedral and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland has made an in-principle commitment of £4 million of National Lottery proceeds, no decision has yet been taken on whether the proposal should proceed.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether those applying for new or renewed passports now have such passports sent to them by registered mail.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The UK Passport Service has awarded a contract to a private courier firm, Special Mail Services Limited (SMS), to send valid UK passports to customers by secure delivery. Rollout of this new service started on 9 February 2004 and was completed by 12 March 2004. Valid UK passports are now delivered using this new service.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which are ports of entry (by air, sea and rail) into the United Kingdom, indicating in respect of each whether or not the passports of those arriving may be read or recorded electronically; and when such reading or recording started.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Electronic facilities to check arriving passengers against the United Kingdom immigration service warning index (a database of names, lost stolen documents and organisations) at 34 ports are detailed below. It should be noted that checks at any of the smaller ports can be carried out manually as appropriate by the use of portable equipment. Electronic Reading of Passports
	The facility to swipe read machine-readable passports was introduced into the following major air and sea ports during 1995 via bespoke keyboards with integrated passport readers.
	Heathrow Airport
	Gatwick Airport
	Dover Ferryport
	Stansted Airport
	Manchester Airport
	Birmingham Airport
	Luton Airport
	Waterloo International
	Harwich Ferryport
	Glasgow Airport
	Leeds/Bradford Airport
	Newcastle Airport
	Cardiff Airport
	Belfast International Airport
	Portsmouth Ferryport
	Cheriton/Coquelles
	Bristol Airport
	East Midlands Airport
	London City Airport
	Smaller ports of entry with low volume traffic and without permanent equipment in place were originally served by portables without the capacity to swipe. However, as with non-machine readable passports, checks were still conducted by manually entering passport details.
	Within the past 12 months the following ports have been upgraded either with the bespoke keyboard or with swipe readers that can be attached to the portable equipment thereby gaining an electronic swipe read facility.
	Aberdeen Airport
	Edinburgh Airport
	Southampton Airport
	Southend Airport
	Plymouth Ferryport
	Hull Ferryport
	Newhaven Ferryport
	Prestwick Airport
	Norwich Airport
	North Shields Ferryport
	With the introduction of juxtaposed controls portable equipment with swipe reader attachments are also located at Paris Gard du Nord and Calais and will shortly be in place in Dunkirk, Lille and Brussels.

Abortion: Cleft Lip and Palate

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether as reported by the Times on 19 April, senior detectives described the decision of the police to reopen the inquiry into late abortion for cleft lip and palate as "political correctness gone mad", if so what action they propose to take against those detectives; and whether those same detectives will be responsible for the reopened inquiry.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: On Friday April 16 2004 West Mercia Constabulary announced its decision to renew investigations into the circumstances surrounding the termination of a pregnancy in the force area.
	The force has advised me that no senior detective involved in the investigation has spoken to a reporter from the Times newspaper and it does not know the source of this comment. The force informs me that the view expressed in the anonymous quote does not reflect the view of West Mercia Constabulary or anyone involved in the renewed investigation.

Higher Education Bill: Scottish Implications

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What support will be provided to Scottish students attending English universities if the proposals in the Higher Education Bill are approved; and
	What will be the position in respect of fees, grants and loans for English students attending Scottish universities if the proposals in the Higher Education Bill are approved; and
	What was the result of the discussions held between the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the Deputy First Minister of the Scottish Executive on 19 April regarding cross-border flows which will follow the enactment of the Higher Education Bill.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The package of support to be provided to Scottish students attending English universities is a matter for the Scottish Executive.
	We propose that from 2006 English students attending Scottish universities should have access to a loan for their tuition fees, to be repaid once they have graduated and are earning over £15,000, and that such students will have access to the same package of loans for maintenance as English students at universities elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
	My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the Deputy First Minister agreed that the Scottish Executive and the Department for Education and Skills would keep each other informed as they develop their respective policies on HE funding, and that the programme of ministerial meetings on cross-border issues would continue.

Iraq: Deaths of Civilians Employed by British Forces

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What compensation is paid to the families of Iraqis murdered while working as interpreters or translators for British forces; and
	How many Iraqis working as interpreters or translators for British forces have been murdered since March last year.

Lord Bach: We are not aware of any Iraqis working as interpreters or translators for British forces who have been murdered. There is no provision for death benefit in the contracts of locally employed civilians.

Cyprus

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What areas of (a) Dhekelia and (b) Akrotiri Sovereign Bases in Cyprus will be transferred to the Cypriot authorities as part of a new settlement in Cyprus; and what areas will be transferred to the areas controlled by (i) Greek Cypriots and (ii) Turkish Cypriots.

Lord Bach: An offer to return areas of land currently within the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus formed part of the proposed settlement which was the subject of a referendum on 24 April. Regrettably, the Greek Cypriots rejected this proposal. The transfer of land will not therefore be implemented.

Iraq: Depleted Uranium Contamination

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14 January (WA 87–88), how many United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel have been tested for total uranium in their urine; how many have had a follow-up isotope test; and what were the results of the follow-up tests.

Lord Bach: As at 29 April 2004, 290 test results had been received. Because of lower than expected demand for the testing, it has been possible to offer the total uranium test followed by the isotope test to all applicants. Detailed results are medically confidential. However, only a very small number of individuals have been found to have depleted uranium in their urine and all of these received injuries in "blue-on-blue" incidents. Only natural uranium was present in all the other samples.

Joint Combat Aircraft

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many aircraft will be procured under the Joint Combat Aircraft project.

Lord Bach: While no final decisions have been taken, our current planning assumption is that we will buy up to 150 short take off and vertical landing variants of the Joint Strike Fighter to meet our Joint Combat Aircraft requirement.

Licensing Act 1964: Section 77 Certificates

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in light of the judgment on 7 April of the Court of Appeal in the case R (Luminar Leisure Ltd) v Crown Court at Norwich, a special hours certificate granted under Section 77 of the Licensing Act 1964 as amended will have to be reviewed individually to see whether customers resort to the premises for music or dancing or substantial refreshment during the extra permitted time; and whether, in examining any application for conversion of an existing alcohol, public entertainment, theatre, cinema, late-night refreshment house or night cafe licence, to which a special hours certificate is attached, into a premises licence, the licensing authority will have a duty to ensure that the conditions specified in this judgment are satisfied.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Licensing Act 1964 does not provide for any automatic review by the licensing justices of special hours certificates issued under Section 77 of that Act and the judgment of the Court of Appeal on 7 April does not require one. Once issued, a special hours certifcate remains in force for the lifetime of the associated justices' on-licence, subject to its revocation. If the justices' on-licence for the premises is not renewed or is itself revoked, the special hours certificate would cease to have effect. If at any time while a special hours certificate is in force the premises ceases to hold a music and dancing licence issued by the local authority or a casino licence issued under the Gaming Act 1968, the Section 77 certificate is revoked automatically. At any time, it is also open to the chief officer of police to apply to the licensing justices for the revocation of a certificate, if:
	the premises have not been used as mentioned in Section 77 of the 1964 Act; or
	because a person has been convicted of selling alcohol at the premises outside of permitted hours; or
	on the whole, the persons resorting to the premises or part of them are there for the purpose of obtaining intoxicating liquor rather than for an appropriate purpose; or
	it is expedient by reason of the occurrence of disorderly or indecent conduct in the premises or any part of it to which the certificate relates.
	Before revoking a certificate, the licensing justices must be satisfied that one of these grounds is made out. For the purposes of the Act and in relation to premises which are not casino or gaming premises, appropriate purposes include dancing and the obtaining of refreshments. Any consideration of such an application to revoke a certificate would need to take account of the Court of Appeal's judgment on 7 April.
	Under Schedule 8 to the Licensing Act 2003, where an applicant applies to convert an existing licence and is successful, the licence must be granted subject to conditions which reproduce the effect of any restriction imposed on the use of the premises for the existing licensable activities under the relevant existing licence or licences, which includes a special hours certificate. When a special hours certificate is included in such an application, the requirements to provide music and dancing and substantial refreshment (or to be licensed as a casino) would be reproduced as a condition of the new premises licence.

Subtitling, Signing and Audio Description

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether current proposals from Ofcom on setting interim targets for subtitling, signing and audio description give full effect to the proposals set out in the regulatory impact assessment in connection with the Communications Bill and in statements made by Ministers during the passage of the Bill.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: It was our stated intention throughout the passage of the Communications Act that the legislation should give Ofcom the ability to set interim targets for broadcasters to meet on the way to reaching their 10-year access services targets. The regulatory impact assessment made a number of assumptions about possible interim targets for the purposes of estimating the related costs but these were not proposals.
	During the passage of the Act in the House of Lords, we recognised the strength of feeling about promoting services to people with sensory impairments. This is why we introduced a fixed five-year interim subtitling target of 60 per cent for broadcasters to ensure progression before the 10th anniversary.

Anti-doping Agency

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What conclusions were reached on the future of the United Kingdom's Anti-doping Agency at the meeting of the Sports Cabinet on Tuesday 20 April.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Sports Cabinet noted the recommendations of the PMP report and agreed that further work be undertaken and presented, for decision, to the Sports Cabinet in July.

Inland Revenue: Outstanding Taxpayer Debt

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Of the outstanding £14 billion owed by taxpayers at 31 March 2003 as set out in the National Audit Office publication The Recovery of Debt by the Inland Revenue, what were the amounts outstanding:
	(a) between one and two years;
	(b) between two and three years;
	(c) between three and four years;
	(d) between four and five years; and
	(e) over five years, distinguishing in each case between PAYE, self-assessed income tax and corporation tax; and what were the comparable figures at 31 March for each of the previous five years.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: As mentioned in the National Audit Office report, over £3 billion owed by taxpayers was more than one year old at 31 March 2003, but it has not been possible further to analyse the figure of £14 billion. Comparable figures for previous years are not available.

Abortion: Costs

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each of the last three years for which figures are available, what was the total number of abortions performed in England and Wales, and in Scotland; how many were performed in National Health Service hospitals; and how many in private hospitals; and[HL2286]bjc
	For each of the last three years for which figures are available, what was the cost of performing abortions in National Health Service hospitals and in private hospitals; and
	What is the total number of abortions performed under the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990); and, of these, how many were performed to save the life of the mother.

Lord Warner: The total number of abortions performed in, and on residents of, England, Wales and Scotland, in National Health Service and private hospitals, are shown in the tables:
	
		Legal abortions to residents of England, Wales and Scotland, 2000–2002 -- England and Wales
		
			  NHS Private TOTAL 
			 2002(1) 73,155 102,749 175,904 
			 2001 76,190 100,511 176,701 
			 2000 81,096 94,791 175,887 
		
	
	(1) provisional
	Source:
	Statistical Division, Department of Health
	
		Legal abortions to residents and non residents of Scotland, 2000–2002 -- Scotland
		
			  NHS Private TOTAL 
			 2002(1) 11,446 148 11,594 
			 2001 11,975 151 12,126 
			 2000 11,815 180 11,995 
		
	
	(2) provisional
	Less than 0.2 per cent. of abortions performed in Scotland are to non-residents of Scotland.
	Source:
	The Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency to the NHS in Scotland.
	The cost of performing abortions in NHS hospitals in England was £32.7 million in 2000–01; £35.7 million in 2001–02 and £38.2 million in 2002–03.
	Information on the cost of abortions performed in the independent sector, whether NHS-funded or privately funded, is not held centrally.
	The number of abortions performed in England and Wales on residents of England and Wales in the years 1968 to 2002 was 4.73 million. Of these 39,757 were performed under Sections 1(1)(c) and 1(4) of the Abortion Act 1967. These are cases where the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the
	life of the pregnant woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated or where the termination is immediately necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

NHS: Working Time Directive

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 24 March (WA 101), how many trusts in the National Health Service anticipate significant difficulties in complying with the European Working Time Directive, as currently interpreted, to the extent that a viable plan for compliance has not yet been agreed with a strategic health authority.

Lord Warner: The National Health Service is working hard to ensure it complies fully with the requirements of the European Working Time Directive in relation to doctors in training from 1 August 2004. The most recent information we have shows that over half of all trusts expect to be fully compliant. Others continue to work on compliance plans. In many cases problems are confined to specific specialties such as maternity and paediatrics. The performance management of Working Time Directive compliance is a matter for strategic health authorities.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether all outstanding claims, following the foot and mouth disease outbreak, have been settled; if not, how many remain outstanding; and to what financial value.

Lord Whitty: As at 28 April 2004, the department is disputing £55.4 million of charges claimed by 28 contractors in connection with the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001.

Electric Shock Dog Collars

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ban the sale of electric shock dog collars.

Lord Whitty: Defra is currently reviewing the legislation relating to the welfare of captive and domestic animals with the intention of introducing an Animal Welfare Bill into Parliament in the fourth legislative session. It is intended that any new legislation should include a power for the Secretary of State to prohibit or restrict the sale and use of certain devices used on animals. Any proposal to prohibit or restrict the sale and use of any device should be based on sound unambiguous scientific evidence. As there is currently no such evidence available in respect of electronic training devices for animals it is not currently proposed that any restrictions should be put in place.

Integrated Administration and Control System

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many farmers had not received their integrated administration and control system (IACS) forms from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Monday 19 April; and what were the reasons for any delay in sending out these forms.

Lord Whitty: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is responsible for the distribution of integrated administration and control system (IACS) forms. It was made aware that 1,255 applicants, 1.85 per cent of the total number of IACS applicants, had not received their 2004 forms by 19 April. The last set of forms were dispatched on 2 April one week later than last year. This slight delay was caused by late changes to IACS schemes.

Tidy Britain

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funding was provided for Tidy Britain in 2000–01; 2001–02; 2002–03; and 2003–04.

Lord Whitty: Government funding was provided to ENCAMS (formerly Tidy Britain Group) as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			 2000–01 3,542 
			 2001–02 3,762 
			 2002–03 (3)4,597 
			 2003–04 (3)3,574 
		
	
	(3) Defra allocated an additional £1 million to local authorities through ENCAMS for the local environment quality pathfinder programme that forged partnerships between local authorities and the local community. Some of the projects developed reduced fast food litter, railway land litter and schools litter.

Vital Villages

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Vital Villages programme will be maintained, even though funding has been withdrawn from it.

Lord Whitty: Although the Countryside Agency has announced the closure of the grant schemes to new applicants, the agency will meet all existing grant commitments under the Vital Villages programme. The grant in aid budget for the Countryside Agency for 2004–05 compares with a growth from £49.0 million in 1999–2000, £52.6 million in 2000–01, £90.8 million in 2001–02, £98.7 million in 2002–03 and a planned £100.0 million in 2003–04. Work is under way on how we can share the lessons learnt from the programme with regional and local delivery bodies to target support for rural communities that need help through mainstream programmes.

Channel Tunnel

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they no longer consider it necessary to maintain electrified grids at each entrance to the Channel Tunnel to deter animals from entering the tunnel.

Lord Whitty: The Government have removed the requirement for electrified grids for two main reasons. First, the threat of rabies being introduced via animals entering the Channel Tunnel from France has substantially receded since 1993 due to the successful measures taken by the French, Belgian and German Governments to reduce the incidence of rabies in wild foxes. Secondly, the electrified grids installed did not function satisfactorily without creating human health and safety hazards.
	The Government are satisfied that there are a number of other measures in place that would prevent the passage of animals through the tunnel.

Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review

Baroness Golding: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the salmon and freshwater fisheries review.

Lord Whitty: Parliamentary time for new salmon and freshwater fisheries legislation has not yet been obtained. None the less, the Government recognise that legislation is needed and remain committed to introducing such legislation when time permits.
	However, a number of the salmon and freshwater fisheries review group report's recommendations, not requiring new primary legislation, have been implemented, including those on habitat improvements work, monitoring and research and development, establishment of a new national fish movements enforcement team, removal of the canal close season (except in areas of special conservation value) and actions to reduce exploitation of eels.